Wichita eagle., 1887-09-02
TRAIN WRECKERS.
Trial at Wyandotte-A Repetition OF
Previous Testimony.

Hamilton case, which is principally repe-
tition of that brought out in the previous
trial. So far the defense has produced
nothing that will probably influence the
| Jury to return a verdict in favor of Hamil-
ton. Its witnesses have almost all been
examined, and 1t is thought that tomorrow
the attorneys will make their arguments.
When the court opened this morning
Charles Jack was placed on the stand by
by the defense. He said: cat the time of
the wreck was section hand. The day
before had walked over the track and
| found, the curve at which the wreck oc-
CURED in very bad condition. The rails
were wide gauge and could scarcely take a
train. The ties were rotten and would not
hold the spikes. saw the wreck
Cross examined, the witness said he was
Knight of Labor, but that he left the order
some time since.
did you leave the order to testify in
this case?" asked Mr. Waggener.
"No, sir, did not.
"Who sent for you to testify?"
Robert Geers."
"Who pays your expenses
Members of the Knights of Labor.
Witness stated that he was personal
friend of Robert Geers, and that he had
frequently visited his family. He had seen
him the Sunday previous to the wreck at
his own house; did not know how many
inches track would have to spread in
order to let train down, but thought that
two inches would be sufficient.
| Mr.. Henry A. Baltsaton was next called.
He said: II live In Wyandotte; by trade l
| am car builder had walked the track
| for six years every morning. The track
| at the time of the wreck was unfit for any
train 10 pass over. At the time of the
wreck three ffths of the ties were rotten.
| am Knight of Labor, but did not ex.
pect to testify, and was surprised when
was called.
Eugene w. Downer was called: 81 am
builder of locomotives and am employed
in the Union Pacific shops. l have been In
the business twenty seven years. l did not
know what the condition of the track was
before the wreck. l saw the wreck at :
o'clock in the morning When got there
the section men were putting in new ties,
and, to the best of my knowledge, there
were about six new ties put in right at the
point where the wreck took place. The
fish plates were apparently 10 good order;
Peter Lorine was put on the stand. He
said: 81 was In the employ of the Missouri
Pacific road at the time Of the wreck. L
saw the wreck about GAO o'clock In the
morning. saw two rotten ties and bent
rail at that point. | had walked over the
track a great many times before the
wreck.
Alexander Beaton testified as follows:
81 have been a resident. OF Wyandotte
eighteen wears and have been acquainted
with the Missouri Pacific track as many
wears. The water during that time had
twice covered the tracks. I have been
over the road almost every second day in
the last five wears. The road was In di.
lapidated condition The ties were in a
bad condition. Ihad never examined min
utely either the spikes or the fish plates.
| Cross examined, the witness said he had
not testified at the former trial, Is knight
of Labor and always went over the track
alone.
James Zitterman was next called. He
went over the track frequently. He passed
over the scene of the wreck day before il
occurred. He regarded the track as in an
He saw several rotten ties.
Cross examined, he said that he was on
the lookout for anything that might be the
matter with the tracks
At the afternoon session, the first witness
called was G. B. Quick, Rosedale car re
pairer, who said spike drawn by CLAW
!, bar would show marks of the bar, but or
being shown spike, could not say wheth
er or 10. 1t had been drawn from hare
wood.
) Marcus L. Parker, Union Pacific ma
chinist, testified that he considered thu
track where the wreck occurred In bac
shane. He had viewed the wreck, and be
lieved the spikes had been pulled out: Thi:
unexpected admission on the part of theil
own witness staggered the attorneys for tht
defense. Gov johnson made desperate
attempt to make the witness revise hi
assertions, so as not to furnish corrobora
ton of the evidence of the state.
| Adjourned to 9 8. N. today.